Technical skills matter a lot in systems administrator jobs. Thus, many of your interview questions should deal with assessing candidates’ hard skills, and this question covers several areas of required knowledge.

Look for:

• Identifying the problem instead of just telling hardware techs something is wrong
• Ability to troubleshoot
• Curiosity to figure out the “why”

It is important for systems administrators to be unafraid of failure and experimentation. In fact, it can be rare for a first attempt at fixing a problem to succeed, and your candidates should have logical strategies for coming up with solutions.

Look for:

• A real strategy instead of trying things randomly
• Recognition that multiple attempts are often necessary
• A walk through the process

This question lends insight into candidates’ self-awareness skills as well as whether their values match those of your business.

Look for:

• Answers that match areas of emphasis in your job description
• At least one soft skill
• Attributes that fit your company culture

This question gets to candidates’ technical knowledge. DC means domain controller, and your candidates should know what it is.

Look for:

• Use of lingo or jargon
• A mention of lingering objects
• Knowledge of 180 days

Systems administrators can have a tremendous range of experiences and certifications, so it’s important to hire one who can do the specific job your business needs. Even if candidates’ resumes and/or cover letters gave an overview of their technical background, this question lets them explain some aspects in more depth.

Look for:

• Qualifications that match what you’re looking for
• An explanation of how the candidate compensates for any gaps (work experience in lieu of schooling, for example)
• Specific certifications

Many systems administrator jobs require interaction with users and knowledge of remote techniques and ticketing systems. This question ensures that the candidate will be able to do the customer service you require.

Look for:

• Ability to help and please clients
• Specific examples) of accomplishments
• Recognition of the value of a good client experience

This question is position-specific and gets to the heart of whether the candidate’s personality fits the requirements. Someone who needs a lot of team support might not fare well here.
Look for:

• An actual example from previous work
• A tie-in to telecommuting or field work for even more insight
• How the example benefited the worker, client or another party

Systems administrators are responsible for maintaining computer systems for businesses and often receive calls from company employees to diagnose and fix system issues. This question allows interviewers to determine a candidate's ability to ask for help and acknowledge when they've reached their professional limitations.

A candidate's answer should emphasize:

• Problem-solving skills
• Ability to consult others
• Verbal communication

Here is an example of a quality candidate answer: